Ukraine urges "concrete steps" on EU-Ukraine association agreement

UkrainePresident Viktor Yanukovych (R) meets with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the EU Council on Friday in Kiev. (Xinhua Photo)
President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday urged concrete steps on an EU-Ukraine association agreement by November.

"I want to underline the desire of both sides to make concrete steps before the Ukraine-EU summit in November this year," Yanukovych said in a meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the EU Council.

Van Rompuy said some progress has made in talks on the association agreement which "would significantly help Ukrainians."

Yanukovych also urged the EU to start a visa-free regime action plan by year's end.

Van Rompuy, however, did not answer a question on a possible date for the visa-free regime to be accepted by EU, saying "the time is not important, but the result of dialogue."

Yanukovych also voiced hope for a free trade zone agreement with the EU.

"All needed conditions for key reforming are successfully created. Ukraine is gradually walking closer to EU requirements," he said. "We have stabilized the economic sector and created an effective administrative system in the country."

Van Rompuy said a final decision on the EU's 610-million-euro financial aid plan for Ukraine "depends on Kiev's further collaboration with the International Monetary Fund."

Source: Xinhua